Detecting indicator fob air-method



June 20, 1944. I D. B'. REPLOGLE Y DETECTING INDICATOR FOR AIR-METHOD CLEANING SYSTEMS Original Filed Sept. 22, 1941 Fic .5a. Fiasb. F iesc.

EEPLOGLEL,

Reissued June 20, 1944 UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE DETECTING INDICATOR FOR AIR-METHOD CLEANING SYSTEMS Original No. 2,293,920, dated August v25, 1942, Serial No. 411,931, September 22,1941. .:Application for reissue January 11, 1944, :Serial No.

9 Claims.

This invention-relates to the subjectofairmethod cleaning systems in which-an air stream isused for its erosive action in removing dust. litter and the like from carpets, rugs,-floors :or articles of clothing, including shoes, etc.

- An important obj ect of the invention-is to'make Visible to the operatorthe results being obtained by the sweeping operation and to indicate to him whether or not dust is being drawn into the cleaner and if so to show the character of the I dust. The improvement is also intended to "retrieve articles of value such as jewelry or buttons from :places being cleaned Where such articles may have .been accidentally drawn into-the air stream.

it further-object cf the invention is to render such indicating devices more efiective by being made of transparent, vplastic material so as :to keep them light and convenient for use in the hand .orabout the work of suction or air-method cleaners whether of the stationary, semi-stationaryor portable types. I-Ieretofore such indicators havebeen too heavy and have depended upon reversing the air stream-so as to clear the indicator from accumulated dust and litter.

Itis well known that transparency-alone does not make dust visible in passing through-aytransparent pipe, but an eddy current or slowing of the flow ,must be effected in some .way in order to make the contentof dust and litter visible during the cleaning operation. Any enlargement or chamber in theair passage will have the tendency to either slow the stream or cause eddies therein or both. The present arrangement'is designed tocause a rapid eddy of part of the stream and a slowing of that partwof thestream inpassing through a screen forming partof the device.

One of the objects of the present inventionvis accordingly .to effect a superiorshowin ofthe dust bymaking the whole of the device as nearly as possible of transparent material and, to cause a clearing ,of the indicator without. reversingthe whirl ofthe incoming dust and with as little interferenceas possible with the efficiency of the stream, and also to prevent the vane from being accidentally placed in such position as to interfere with operation of the air stream.

These and other objects are attained by the construction, arrangement and operation of the parts as herein-describedand illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

--Fig L is aside elevation of the article complete and readytobeincorporated into the suction pipe line of a cleaning system.

Fig. 2-is atop view taken on Figal with the assembling pipe connections removed from the transparent element-of the device.

- Figs-3 and 3a .show. respectively-a male and femalenipple for pipe connection, one end of each being-adapted toslide over and .secureas an assemblingring the parts of the body shownin Figs. land 2.

4 is a viewv .of the one-half of the article shown. in Fig. 2..and,is designed toshow the location ofthemedianvane or diaphragm which is adapted to turn. about its vertical axis between the .twohalvesoi .the assembledshell or outside globular part of the device.

Figs, 5a, 5b, and 5c are respectively. an edge view of the. diaphragm shown in Fig. 4; a cross sectional view of the shaft and screen; and cross sections-of ,the laminations making up this ring or vane, one of the said laminations being a rubber, felt. or leather ring having. its edges to coincide ,with the inner globular surface ofthe chamber andbeing. clamped between transparent assem bling rings which also are designed, to hold in place. the central screen of the diaphragm or vane .a side view of which isshown'in Fig. 4 in what may be called aineutral'position when the device is in operation.

. Fig.6 represents one of two exactly alike shells or halves of the globular construction shown in the other figures, Figs. 1, 2 and'l.

Fig. '7 is suggestive of a method of using the device where a "special nozzle suitable for cleaning clothing and the like is applied to the nipple instead of a-suctionextension pipe as shown in Fig. 8.

Fig-Bsuggests the total assembly of a portable sweeper with pipe attachmentwhere the suction extension pipe may be used =attachedto and parallel to the body of the machine or in a'position dissociated from the machineexcept for its connection through the hosepipe.

Referring to Fig.- 8,- A designates a-transparent indicator embodying mywinvention. B denotes a hollow wand constituting "the suction pipe of a "cleaning apparatus, to'thei lower end'of'which is attached a suitable floor tool or other suction nozzle C. The outlet from the indicator is connected through flexible tubing or the like D with suitable suction producing and filtering means E.

A similar arrangement is indicated in Fig. 7 wherein theindicator A is connected through a short pipe B to a suitable cleaning tool C while the outlet to the indicator is connected through a flexible tubing D to a suitable source of suction not shown. The tool shown in Fig. 7- is adapted to be held in the hand of the operator.

The indicator A may be composed of any light 7 transparent material as for example Celluloidor one of the newer transparent plastics such as" vinyl resin or the like. The indicator is prefer tral position such as is indicated in Fig. 4 wherein the diaphragm is in the vertical plane which joins the two halves of the indicator.

When the diaphragm is located in one of the diagonalpositions shown in Fig. 2, dust laden air entering from suction pipe B or B will first be deflected outward toward the spherical wall .of the indicator by reason of the rings so that the amount of dust carried by the air will be readily apparent to the operator. Ultimately the air'and the finer particles of dust will pass through the central screen 22 and out through 1 .pipeD or D to a suitable filtering means. Any

ably composed of two identical shells or halves ID---III one of which is indicated in Fig. 6. The

shells ID are of semi-spherical construction and 7 are adapted to be joined in a central vertical plane as illustrated in Fig. 2'. When assembled the main portion of the indicator is spherical or globular in form and includes a main chamber II. having inlet and outlet portions 12 and I3 respectively, also divided in half as indicated in Fig. 2. When the parts are assembled the two nipples I4 and I5 shown in Figs 3 and 3a respectively are attached to the inlet and outlet portions I2 and I 3, respectively and." thus serve to hold the indicator in'ass'embled position. The nipples I4 and I5 are preferably' of light transparent material similar to the indicator itself. When assembled thesenipples hold the two halves of the indicatorsnugly together and insure a fluid tight fit. The nipples I4 and I5 are adapted to be connected at their other ends to pipes B and D respectively of Fig. 8 or B and D of Fig. '7.

Within the globular chamber II is mounted a disc shaped laminated diaphragm or vane; generally designated bythe reference character F. Stops I6 and I! within the globular chamber I I limitthe movement of the diaphragm, and prevent the vane from being placed in such position as to interfere with the operation of theair stream. The diaphragm exactly fits within the spherical walls of thechamber A and is. adapted to be rotated about the central vertical: axis by meansof knobs or handles I8 and I9 as .best in dicated in Fig. 4. These knobs are located. one above' and the other below-the, axis of] the diaphragm. and. may be formedjof rubber, preferably soft rubber with knurled edges, the rubber lightly impinging. on the shell at oppositeopenings therein. These knobs-act as seals toprevent any leaks ageof air through theopenings and26'inthe wall of the indicator. The knobs are connected to the diaphragm through suitable stems 21 and28. i As shown the diaphragm F is made up ofa pair of transparent rings 20, gripping between them a ring 2| of somewhat greater diameter than the rings 2Il-20. The ring 2| serves as a seal 'and is adapted to engage the wall of the globular chamber. This ring may be made of rubber felt, leather or other suitable material adapted to provide a fluid tight seal. The transparent rings 20 are also. adapted to grip between them a central screen 22. "The various laminations of which the diaphragm is composed ma be secured together by the use of suitable adhesive or by fusing together the various laminations or by the use of other suitable fastening means.

In operation the diaphragm E mayb located in either of thetwofdotted positions indicated in Fig: 2 or the diaphragm may be moved to a nonlarger particles, including articles of value such as, jewelry, coins, buttons or the like will be screened out before entering the outlet pipe.

Such articles can be readily removed from the fQSpherical chamber by simply uncoupling the de- "vice from the pipe line and emptying through the nipple.

It will be noted that nearly all the parts of the device are in pairs, that is to say, there are two hemispherical shells or parts which when put together face to face constitute the whirling chamber. There are also two knobs for turnin thediaphragm which knobs may be exactly alike, one located above'and the other below the diaphragm; also the discs 20-20 may be identical. This arrangement lends simplicit to the'device and decreases manufacturing costs.

The invention has been described indetail for the purpose of illustration but it will be obvious that 'many modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is: I

1. A dust indicator for a suction cleaning system, comprising a spherical chamber located in the system, having transparent outer wall and a circular diaphragm mounted for rotation about an axis within the chamber, said diaphragm including an outer transparent ring portion adapted to defiect dust against the spherical wall of the chamber and having a central opening to permit air and dust to pass to an outlet passage.

25A dust indicator as set forth in claim 1 wherein the spherical chamber wall is centrally divided and is provided with inlet and outlet portions, and sleeves fitting said inlet and outlet portions and serving to hold the indicator in; assembled position.

3. A. dust indicator as set forth in claim 1 wherein limiting stops for the diaphragm are provided within the chamber wall.

I 4. A dust indicator as set forth in claim 1 wherein a. screen is provided for said ring openmg.

5.-' dust indicator, as set forth in claim 1 wherein the diaphragm is mounted on an axis passing through the wall of said chamber and knobs'are provided at the ends of said axis serving the dual purpose of sealing the openings tems, adapted to be interposed between adjacent tubular elements of the system, located between the suction nozzle and a source of suction; said indicator comprising a globular indicator element having inclined inlet and outlet pipes, and being formed in two halves each of which includes one-half of the inlet and outlet pipes, and an annular deflector element positioned within the globular element and adapted to extend diagonally between the inlet and outlet openings.

9. An indicator as set forth in claim 8 wherein the deflector element is shiftable to permit 

